After several weeks of contradictory statements and unconvincing bravado, the President finally unveiled his plans to combat the epidemic of gun violence that kills tens of thousands of Americans every year – but unsurprisingly, his proposals fall far flat of the substantial reforms to our recklessly loose gun laws that our nation needs to see.

Taking to Twitter this morning, the President boasted of how he was moving forward both with expanding background checks and planning to arm teachers, bringing more guns into our classrooms while failing to do anything that might involve reducing the number of guns circulating among an extraordinarily irresponsible civilian population.

Very strong improvement and strengthening of background checks will be fully backed by White House. Legislation moving forward. Bump Stocks will soon be out. Highly trained expert teachers will be allowed to conceal carry, subject to State Law. Armed guards OK, deterrent!…….

Instead of doing anything himself, the President is once again passing the buck, this time to Education Secretary Betsy DeVos, who will chair a “Federal Commission on School Safety” to explore ways to make our schools safer.

Ironically, the president himself publicly ridiculed the idea of using commissions to solve public problems on Saturday night during a wild campaign rally in Pennsylvania, saying that “Do you think the drug dealers who kill thousands of people during their lifetime, do you think they care who’s on a blue-ribbon committee?”

His statements make it glaringly obvious that this “commission” is nothing more than a cheap PR stunt to appease gun rights activists.

Unsurprisingly, Democrats were not pleased with the White House’s proposals. “The White House has taken tiny baby steps designed not to upset the NRA, when the gun violence epidemic in this country demands that giant steps be taken. Democrats in the Senate will push to go further including passing universal background checks, actual federal legislation on protection orders, and a debate on banning assault weapons” declared Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY).

While at least the expansion of background checks is something tangible that might prevent some guns from falling into the wrong hands, it’s clear that until we reclaim the Houses of Congress and the White House from those beholden to the gun lobby, the daily toll of bodies will continue to grow unabated.